Vessel-closure.



PATBNTED OCT. 10, 1905.

J. K. PENFOLD.

VESSEL CLOSURE.

APPLICATION FILED 0OT.25.1904.

Q/vi/bmwm (NGYC-LPINOGHAFNERE msmcmm av c JOSEPH K. PENFOLD, OF IVARREN,OHIO.

VESSEL-CLOSURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 10, 1905.

Application filed October 25, 1904. Serial No. 229,959.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH K. PENFOLD, of Warren, in the county ofTrumbull and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Vessel-Closures; and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same.

The object of this invention is to provide improved, simple, andhighly-effieient means for securely locking a vessel-closure in placewithout the necessity of making any special provision in the formationof the vessel for the accommodation of the closure, and yet at the sametime permit of the latter being readily removed.

The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth,and particularlypointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of aportion of a vessel with the closure in position and its binding-diskloose therein. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the bindingdiskexpanded. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the disk. Fig. 4 shows means forexpanding the disk, and Fig. 5 the device for releasing the closure.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the closure proper, which isshown as consisting of a pan-like member having a circular bottom 2 andan upturned peripheral rim 3, the edge whereof is preferably flangedoutwardly, as shown at 4:. This member is designed to fit in the openingof a can, jar, or other vessel.

5 is the retaining-disk, of concavo-convex formation, having slits 6 inits edge and a hole 7 in its center. W'ith its concaved facedownwardthis disk is designed to fit in the panlike member, its edge justclearing the rim of the former when first placed therein. After beingproperly positioned the disk is spread outwardly into a perfectly flatstate, (see Fig. 2,) so that its edge will impinge against the upturnedrim of the closure with such force as to firmly bind the latter in placewithin the can or other vessel.

In Fig. 2 the showing at the point of contact between the bottom of theclosure and the can is somewhat exaggerated, the latter being indicatedas being slightly bulged. In actual practice this may or may not be thecase.

The flattening out or expanding of the disk may be effected by variousmeans. 1 have shown for this purpose a plunger 8 movable within the boreof a cylindrical body 9, the exterior diameter of which lattercorresponds to the internal diameter of the closure. In practice thebody 9 is positioned within the closure member, fitting snug against theupturned rim thereof and pressing and holding down the outer slittededge of the disk. Thereupon the plunger is forced downwardly against thecenter of the disk, effecting the expansion of the edge thereof andopeningor spreading such edge sufficiently to cause it to squeeze thebottom of the rim of the closure to the extent of slightly enlarging thesame, and thereby binding it within the can or other vessel.

In removing the closure the hooked instrument 10, Fig. 5, is inserted inthe central hole 7 of the disk and then pressed downwardly, with theedge of the vessel acting as the fulcrum. The disk being thus pried out,the closure may be readily loosened or removed by the aid of anysuitable means inserted under the flange 4c.

The advantages of my invention are apparent to those skilled in the art.It will be seen that I have provided an extremely simple and inexpensiveform of closure especially adapted for jars and cans, but alikeapplicable to other vessels. It is only necessary that the pan-likemember be of size to conform to the opening of the vessel, the lockingthereof in place being effected entirely by the expanded disk.

The expansi ble disk when flattened out serves to strengthen thepan-like member and also the neck or top of the receptacle itself, withthe result that a lighter and cheaper grade of tin or other metal may beemployed. The disk may be made from scrap material from the stamping outof the other member, thus preventing waste, with resultant economicaladvantages. Preferably the bottom of the pan-like closure is full beforeexpansionthat is, it is not flat-with the result that greater latitudeis allowed in expanding the closure under the action of the disk; butIdo not limit myself in this respect.

I claim as my invention The combination with a vessel having a smoothinterior at its mouth, of a pan-like member having a full bottom and aperipheral rim, said member being designed to fit within the mouth ofthe vessel, and a metallic disk consisting of a single concavo-convexplate of slightly less diameter than the interior of said member andformed with slits at specification in the presence of two subscribitsperiphery, said disk When expanded being ing Witnesses.

designed to force the rim of said member against the smooth Wall of theVessel-mouth JOSEPH PENFOLD' 5 and to conform throughout to the bottomof WVitnesses:

said member. GEO. WV. UPTON,

In testimony whereof I have signed this S. B. CRAIG.

